It’s Hanukkah! So put on your yamaka! And it is almost Christmas! Are you ready for all the holiday drama? Do you have all of your presents bought? Did everyone get a tree?
I didn’t manage to get a tree this year. I’ve been having bouts of narcolepsy where I just can’t seem to stay away. I laid down for a nap the other afternoon and woke up thirteen hours later. Banjo is not thrilled being off his schedule. But we are at least awake during the daylight hours today! I did manage to find the wreath holder and got my tacky green wreath on the door. I’m thinking about getting a year round wreath of some sort because the wreath covers up that little half-moon window at the top of the door, and if you are tall enough you can look right into the house.
I was wondering today if kids still ask for toys for Christmas anymore. I remember years ago there was always one or two toys that every kid wanted and there was always a shortage. I can’t recall the last time I heard about that. I suppose kids today just want apps or games for their Internet devices. If anyone has kids with a list for Santa, I’m dying to know what is on it these days.
Our snow is finally gone, it stuck around for about a week. The roads were clear but there were patches of snow for days! I am really happy for the below freezing temperatures, some winters we don’t get a cold snap that is cold enough and long enough to kill off all the mosquitoes so they just keep breeding and getting bigger all winter.
You’d think with all the rest I’ve gotten I’d be up and productive this weekend, but you’d be wrong. I’m still yawning and fighting off taking a nap. I suppose I should at least get up and do some dishes. What are you guys up to this weekend? Must, stop yawning…
Sleeping disorders are the worst, and it seems like the more you sleep, the more tired you are. Hope you start feeling perkier soon, so you can enjoy the holidays. If not, just veg out and enjoy that too. Love the photo of Fredrik’s home – just gorgeous, like something out of an architectural digest. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a much better New Year than a lot of us have had in 2017. Of course, every day we’re alive to enjoy this beautiful planet of ours is a good day, as far as I’m concerned. Still thinking of everyone impacted by the horrible fires in CA and bad weather in the East.
I’m off work until the 26th. This week I’m going to the Mall of America and going to visit my Grandpa. My Grandma passed away last December and he seems a little lost this year. We’ve gotten a little closer this year as I’ve always been closer to my Grandma on my Dad’s side and he’s always passed my phone calls off to her. A lifetime dairy farmer who still rides horses in his 80s and delivers meals to home bound elders. We will go visit my Father, Brother, and Grandma’s graves then probably have lunch.
Did he ever do the Minnesota State Fair? I love that event.
I adore old-timers like your grandfather – they’re made from a different cloth. Talk to him as much as you can and get as much family history as you can. There are so many questions I wish I could ask my parents – things I have some memories of and others that I’m just curious about – but they’re both gone now. I got two of my Irish uncles on videotape years ago – they had both been educated in Northern Ireland and then moved to England, as had my father. My dad was in the tank corps and was among the British troops who liberated the BergenBelsen concentration camp. Never talked about it. Of my uncles, one was a bomber pilot over India in WWII and the other was in military intelligence. After the war, they all became police officers and did very well, with the result that they were grabbed up for really interesting jobs when they retired. My father’s cousin went to work as a security chief for a branch of the Rothschild family and traveled all over with them, but I couldn’t get any juicy stories out of him. They don’t hire those men for nothing – they know how to be loyal and keep their mouths shut. Anyway, hope you have a lovely holiday and enjoy every minute with your grandfather – he probably has stories that will surprise you.
What a refreshing place to come to….
TT you keep it REAL! So tired of the “FAKE” world we live in these days where social media ditactes how happy or mad I should be at whatever is trending. I don’t care….I am happy living without most outside influences. I do my own research and make my own decisions. ..right or wrong, they are mine. So cheers! to long naps, hanging with my dogs, great food, and dropping in on TT for an update and a chuckle! So thank you for being one of us;)
TT, there are still not just have toys, but there are also Scrooges who snap up all available items and then resell them on eBay for scandalous jacked up prices, which many parents feel they must pay.
Sick.
Here I am winding down with only one big left for our group singing at assisted living facilities. That will make 29 gigs this year.
Next week, planning on a boat tour of decorated homes and boats in Huntington Harbour.
And some extra sleep this weekend.
I don’t get into the Christmas movies so much, but repeating feel good movies like Sully and Hidden Figures.
People were doing this for certain toys on the local sale groups, and the mods deleted them for gouging. I hope they’re stuck with the stuff.
This year’s front-runners of the season include Hatchimals, L.O.L. Big Surprise and Fingerlings.
This from an article.
In another place there were items going to over $1000 on eBay!!
Ridiculous!
I just baked about a thousand spritz cookies and binge-watched “Curb Your Enthusiasm” . Now I will put Christmas music on my headphones and do laundry, yay, Holiday Fun!
My “kid” is 13 and she asked for some digital stuff (Itunes and steam cards) but she also asked for stuffed animals and a Meccano robot building kit. They have some very expensive robot sets but lucky for me she likes the $27 one : ) I think they make so many toys nowadays that there’s never a shortage like there was in the cabbage patch stampede days! The only toys I know that sold out and are a pain to find are the Nintendo classic game console and the Super Nintendo game console. Nintendo only rolled out a small number of them this past year and now instead of buying them for the original $69 idiots like me have to spend $140 from 3rd party sellers on Amazon. My nephew (who is like a son to me) has a Christmas birthday and (figures!) it was the only thing he asked for.
We have a 9 foot tree in the living room that still isn’t decorated. *This* close to just leaving it as is and calling it a day. It smells really nice at least. Just haven’t gotten into the whole Christmas spirit yet at home, but we did go to see the Messiah last week which is always festive. The Nutcracker with the family is later this week.
Went out with friends last night and had two martinis and my first experience with edibles. The martinis were fine but when the edibles kicked in it knocked me on my ass. I have become a lightweight. Sad.
I gotcha girl on the tree. It’s up and lit, bust waiting for someone to hang the ornaments.
Chanukah List (for my preschooler)
1. Stompeez slippers
2. Cozmo robot
3. Rocking chair
4. ABC Mouse
5. Thor hammer
6. Chocolate Egg Surprise Maker
7. Snuggie Tails blanket
8. Science kit
Hot toys are Fingerlings (little robotic monkeys….no joke) and hatchimals which are stuffed animals that hatch out of eggs. My kids didn’t request either of these things thankfully. It’s probably terrible but I help the kids make Amazon Wish lists in case family members want ideas. I tell the kids that they are not guaranteed to get what they want and to be thankful for whatever they get and they really are.
My granddaughter mentioned for the first time yesterday that she wanted something called LOL dolls. I think this is one of those sold out things being resold for high prices too. There is no chance she is getting it at that rate.
Tree is still not up, hoping some Christmas spirit will push me to get it done.
I’m stuck on American Horror show season 3. Stuck and bingeing. Some sick shit on this show. Im sick enough to enjoy every second.
Is that Coven? That is the only season I watched If you type American Horror Story into my search box you’ll find really, really good reaps.
That’s what I’m bingeing on now. I’ve watched season 1 and 2. I’ll check out the archives for the recaps.
If I read the recaps, I’m gonna revive the thread.
That’s great. The recaps are very in depth and explain a lot of things you might have missed.
Last Christmas the hot toy was a Hatchimal, I spent a serious amount of time looking for one with my friend who had promised her kid one, we even went to other cities, didn’t find one. Target employees were keeping them for themselves when they came in on the truck every morning. I kept reporting them to corporate but they said there was nothing they could do. Drove me crazy. My kids are getting Legos. And someone else is on toy search duty for that friend this year.
Jen, took a peek for Hatchimals. Wal-Mart has many, Toys R Us looks stocked, and Amazon is stocked full if it’s a must have, looks like Las Vegas is stocked, and ready to sell. Just thought I’d let you know.
Legos is are always a winning gift.
Amazing how a week from Monday is Christmas. I have no idea where this year went. Probably one of the quickest passing I can remember. Right now I’m so unprepared, that I will update here around Saturday the 23rd, or possibly Sunday the 24th, lol. Oh well. Always gets done and haven’t missed one yet!! Everyone take care.
Oh Jen, I missed that you said “last year”.
Still an awful story. I’m glad you don’t have to deal with this year, lol.
I finally got the tree completely decorated last night! We do a fresh tree every year so we really can’t set up right after Thanksgiving or it’d be a needle free dry tree by Xmas. I give husband and daughter credit, they had the tree up last Saturday but I don’t get home until late on tue’s. Over the last couple yrs transitioning all tree lights to LED and I want colors not white. Old lights dieing and LED colored hard to find! Finally had enough last night…finished!
My oldest daughter is a single mom (and only parent) she and my grandson, 5 y/o want camping equipment. Bought them a nice tent and some accessories. Both claim that’s all they want but I feel like 5 y/o’s need something?fun? I asked my daughter if my grandson would like an Etch a sketch or spyrograph? (We are all artsy) Spyrograph it is! I always loved that as a kid.
I work the 2 days (12° shifts…55 mile out of town) before Xmas and the day after..As a nurse and a veteran I’m used to working on holidays so we’re all excited to be together w/my parents as well this year!
My youngest (of 2) is 16, she wants a Poloroid camera! Which I giggled and got for her! Everything old (besides me) is new again!
Best wishes to you TT and Banjo!
Okay, here is a crazy story about what I just did today. This could get long.
There is this homeless guy in my neighborhood who has a dog (whose name I just found out is bubba, and she’s a girl). The Bubba goes with Mitch (whose name I also just found out) everwhere. She is perfectly well behaved and is never on a leash. I became intrigued with Bubba because she’s like a Rottweiler or something and I’ve seen them out side my window get in situations and she never fails to mind her owner.
The weather forecast here is for rain all week. So a couple hours ago, I saw Mitch and Bubba walking down the street in the rain. He was going to the yellow store which is the closest thing we have to a grocery story in walking distance since Ghetto Publix moved. I found all of this out since after a few minutes I got to thinking that this guy is probably going to be in the rain all week and I wanted to do something to help him. So I go in the car and went looking for him. It took me a while but I finally did. I offerered to take him to Publix and buy him whatever he needed.
So me and Bubba and Mitch got in the car and drove to Fancypants Publix. He’d never been there. I tried to buy him cigarettes but he said he was good. Eventually, I discovered that he mostly wanted pudding and beer. He has no teeth. He did pick up a container of cooked chicken. We got a big bag of dog food and a bunch of canned food for Bubba. (I hope he is not feeding her the chicken with the bones), It was hard to get him to put put anything in his cart. More than one suggestion was shot down by his reminder he has no teeth. So my good Samaritan routine was not getting very much further than beer and pudding.
Then things kind of went south. souther.
At the cash register, he had trouble loading his stuff on to the counter. I had to get the bagger to help him and sent him over to the pharmacy where he laid down on the waiting bench. When we got to the car, I had left my lights on and the car would not start. So now I am in the parking lot in the rain with homeless man and his dog and the car won’t start. I found a nice man to help and he wanted me to roll the car up into the space in front of me to keep anyone from parking there. So I went to do that and stupidly tried to do so by starting the car. AND IT WORKED. Crisis averted.
Then I took him home. He lives a street or two over in the driveway of a house in a tiny camper with a door that will not close. He has a TV, a tiny fridge, and a micowave and a tiny heater. It was EXTREMELY depressing. I got his stuff in, and made him take his medicine. He had not taken it yet and that was why he was lightheaded. Plus he probably had not eaten or had anything to drink. He took it with a beer, but I made him promise to drink one of the Powerades and left.
Then I got home and unloaded my groceries. I found some of his dog food in with my stuff and and went back to take it to him and came home and found his CHICKEN and had to go back again because other than beer and pudding that was the main thing he picked out so it was like THREE TRIPS to his camper.
OH and I bought Bubba a bag of pigs ears and got to give her one. She is such a good dog.
So that is my weird as fuck good deed of the day.
Okay, I am still trying to get myself together. The dude was literally hunch over the cart having trouble breathing when we were in checkout. It was sort of a spectacle. Then I thought he was going to die in my car and the battery was failing. Then I had to go back three times to get him all his stuff.
I am sitting her thinking what I would have done with a dead man in my car. That sort of thing is difficult to explain.
So I have a new neighbor who is also homeless that the owners of the house next door let move in because he was living in his car. He’s already helped me when I locked myself out. I think I’ll get him a publix card. I’d like to give alcohol but I don’t know if he drinks. I don’t think you can buy it on a gift card. should I give cash too or would that be weird or a bad idea?
also, what can I take the guy with no teeth to eat other than pudding, which seems to be his thing. Protein drinks maybe? I don’t know what to do.
I will say I am sort of jealous he has a doctor and prescription drugs and he mentioned that he might be getting teeth soon.
That is so great of you. How about some soup? I know it sounds cliche but, without teeth it would work and be nutritious. Also pasta. Both of which go great with alcohol!! His dog sounds adorable.
I’d think choose the gift card, which I think is the best choice. Save cash maybe for future chores or help you need. A card just seems more like a gift. (And very thoughtful) And I imagine very appreciated. ???
Can always save alcohol for New Year’s if it’s mentioned. (Or be sly and ask him).
When I was nursing my friend with throat cancer, I made oatmeal and cream of wheat, and lots of soups and bread pudding . The trick is getting protein in them so eggs are good to. Anybody can eat scrambled eggs, teeth or not. Get him cans of beef soup and chicken noodle etc. those little packs of pasta you just add water to and boil are easy too. The last thing on the list should be alcohol.
But it is on the list! He went for the SIX PACK ! so not an issue.
Tobaccorhoda’s suggestion of eggs is excellent and, reading her comment, it occurred to me that, if you have time and/or are so inclined, perhaps you could make him a frittata with, let’s say six eggs, tater slices, spinach and lots of cheese, maybe even some shrooms. You could quarter the frittata, wrap the 1/4s in saran, stick them in a freezer bag and even wrap it up all Christmasy-like. It would be a nutritious, filling meal and, most importantly, it can be gummed rather than chewed. And I seem to recall you writing about food and how much you enjoy cooking. Win-win! Giving of ourselves is so rewarding that it often ends up feeling like a gift to oneself. Bless you for stepping up when a need presented itself.
I want that with the mushrooms!
Regarding ur door window try spraypaint frost or stain glass window decor film. Just recently put some on my front windows for more privacy. Adds to the decor of a room and so easy..I think you would like it. Happy holidays to you
I like the oatmeal idea. I am an oatmeal chef haha and people think I make the best oatmeal ever but what I really do is take two packs of the instant with brown sugar and pour a little boiling water on it and put some butter on top. Also ramen noodles are very cheap and filling but not very healthy if you are watching sodium/chemicals a poached egg on top is good with that too. I would guess anything that a person cannot choke on is good like soup. Yogurt, jello, pudding, mashed potatoes, rice or even baby food…
We have netfix here right now and I am in another universe. I’m treating myself with the winter tv-slump and currently binging/marathon Shameless. (almost on season 7). Completely missed the Atlanta airport news, and really ALL news for a few days here. I’m wondering if Netflix is going to send me one of those “Are you okay?” messages. My sleep is weird right now too and going with the flow since the Solstice is any moment. BUT NOT 13 HOURS!!! I am jealous! Except I would wet the bed if I slept that long.
I had my annual escape fantasy and checked the times of sunset in Australia dreaming about doing the Endless Summer, also checked globally for sunrise/sunset times and day length.(again). Bought one family member a gym membership gift and they are using it a lot, so I’m happy with that even though it’s costing me 57 dollars a month but I found something extra that pays me 12.50 a week to cover the bill. Still working on shopping and everyone else is getting a calendar from the dollar store or scarf or gloves.
Hope everyone is having a nice holiday season and not too much stress.
And since I’m the only one up right now, I’ll brag a little about my holiday plans. So I think I’ve told you guys about my relative’s condo on the Hudson which is nicer and more luxurious than any that I have seen on Real Housewives of NJ?–Well, last year we had the best surprize which was that the Empire State building did a light show to Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas is You”, and it was syncronised with some local NYC radio station, so we had a ball out on the patio with the radio blasting and NYC skyline going NUTS! even though it was freezing cold. I’m wondering if they do that every year or not? (starting to get a little excited and holiday spirit here even though I may miss all the daylight today)